We are special and unique. Let's celebrate it

Very often I meet people who are so awesome in their work but refuse to come into the public limelight. They just refuse to be acknowledged or appreciated in front of people and you wonder why. Some start perspiring profusely or get very nervous. What is preventing this person from stepping into the public glare?

Talking to counsellors, I received many stories of what these people experience as students and how it impacts their personality in the older years. One counsellor mentioned that in a particular school, students from Grade 7 get categorized and labelled as per their academic performance. If the child receives less that 50% he or she is sent to counsellor for remedial work. In extreme case sent to hospitals to receive a learning difficulty certificate even though the child has not exhibited any such evidence. In few schools, divisions of a class are as per academic performance. Division 'A' is bright, division 'D' is below average and so on.  It was so painful to hear this, imagine the child undergoing this trauma. He or she in such a young age has been classified.
https://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2015/jun/20/secret-teacher-too-quick-label-children-arent-perfect-adhd-dyslexia

In another instance, the child who has been labelled has been isolated by the rest of the class. The peers wish to have no interaction with that student as their statuses do not match. The teachers are aware but not taking up the matter with seriousness. What is that girl undergoing? What is her mental state?

Do you think these children will have the confidence to interact with people in future? Do you feel they will come out of the shadows? What is the self esteem of these students? How is their academic performance further impacted?
The PISA [Programme for International Student Assessment] has highlighted graphically few factors hindering learning.

I wish to ask all who label, who gave you this right to classify or label children? Why do you only focus on marks? Why do you discount other attributes? Why do you not promote other potentials of the child and make him feel a winner? What stops you from broadening your mindsets?

Our students are diamonds in the sky. Every diamond has different facets and faces which need polishing for their worth to be recognized and applauded. Give them that opportunity and help polish the edges. These students when they grow up will never be apprehensive of facing a crowd because their self esteem is so high that nothing perturbs them.  They will view the world as happy and progressive.

At the end we all are special and unique and we rock. We matter.

Great Teachers transform you

The word 'Teacher' holds so much value, automatically a sense of respect for that individual seeps over you and the look on the face expresses 'gratitude'. 

Recently, there have been times when the name has been tarnished, unfortunate incidents question your belief and trust bestowed on that identity but believe me, majority of the teachers are there because they 'care'. They wish to make a difference and I meet them everyday in the course of my career. 

Today, I stand tall because I had many great teachers in my life, my mother being the greatest of all but in the world outside, two particularly stand out because they came in my life where my confidence level was at the ebb.  

Ms. Mona Nanavati, my yoga teacher entered my life where my life was at crossroads and the future uncertain. I still remember her lovely face always showing so much love and happiness to see me in the class doing the asanas with devotion. Her regular efforts to know what I was planning to do with my future along with my action plan made me structure my actions. It was she who suggested that since I displayed a flair for teaching, I should go for a teaching course. She helped me secure admission as I was late in applying. The faith shown in me along with the Principal opened the doors of professional teaching to me.

The year was 1999 and I was back in college after a good 5 year break. All the students for the Bachelors of Education course seemed very young and excited and I felt older to them. I was nervous of exchanging introductions as I was in the process of getting divorced and was uncomfortable mentioning my status. 

I took my place in the class, smiled and made small talk. The first week was awkward as I could not break barriers of communication from my end. Thus students had formed groups but I was the loner sitting at one corner. 

One of my Professors, Dr. Usha Bhatia observed this and called me to the library during regular class so that we could be alone. Very warmly and gently she held my hand and told me to share my concerns. I normally don't open up that easily but the warmth in her eyes and patience to let me be in silence till I was comfortable got me talking. What I truly appreciated was there was no advice or judgement but interest to understand me. 

As for status, her perspective of mentioning my status as 'single' seemed very logical as she felt that people would not connect my progress to 'sympathy tag'. The success could be owned by me for my hard work.  Therefore I took to it with excitement and projected it. In the course of the year, I had made many friends and able to work collaboratively. Along the way, I recognized few genuine friends like Bhavika and Sudha who became my confidantes and are still my very close mates.

The driving force and trust bestowed by my teacher was so deep that at the end of the year I was awarded 'Miss H.J' student of the year award. Also I passed the year with distinction, happily progressing towards my M.Ed course. 

Thus it is not content or teaching that truly matters but the profound bonding between teacher and student which develops the individual to reach maximum potentials and my teachers helped me realize my strengths. 

These teachers had the special touch to transform me because they cared and I will forever be in gratitude to them. 

Today, I feel blessed that I am a teacher, in the same position of transforming lives and if even one life under me has flowered and blossomed then the purpose of my life has been fulfilled. God bless all teachers who 'CARE' and 'SHARE'.